Alberta Must Protect Half of Oil Sands Region

Conservation group warns species faces extinction unless government acts

Edmonton, Alberta — Alberta must act fast to protect 50% of the oil sands area from industrial use so that wilderness, biodiversity and traditional use can continue into the future.

That is the key advice contained in an open letter to Ed Stelmach from the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS). CPAWS wrote the letter to the premier on the occasion of World Wetlands Day, February 2, and the International Year of Biodiversity.

The province and energy industry have been criticized by leading thinkers and governments for their rush to extract fuel from the oil sands without regard for the environmental costs. Alberta has a chance to prove the critics wrong, says Helene Walsh, Boreal Conservation Director for CPAWS, Northern Alberta

Smart land use planning is key to healthy environment, sustainable energy sector

It is possible and necessary to reconcile the interests of both habitat conservation and the industry in the oil sands area by moving quickly on protection of wildlife habitat through the land use planning process currently underway.

“Since only 40% of the Lower Athabasca region contains commercial oil sands, this should easily be possible,” claims Walsh.

“Due to lack of planning in the past, the decline of woodland caribou in the region is alarming. Woodland caribou is the species that best indicates the health of the Boreal forest, and the science shows they are headed for extinction.”

Government committee recommends immediate, aggressive action to protect habitat

In April 2009, the government committee responsible for advising on how to restore healthy caribou populations in the oil sands region issued its report: “Boreal caribou will not persist for more than two to four decades without immediate and aggressive management intervention. Tough choices need to be made between the management imperative to recover boreal caribou and plans for ongoing bitumen development and industrial land-use.” (Athabasca Caribou Landscape Management Options Report 2009 Athabasca Landscape Team)

The committee recommended the province establish large protected and restored areas for caribou through the new planning process under the Alberta’s Land Use Framework.

“Protection of caribou and wildlife habitat, through our new land use planning process, would send a strong message to the entire world that we in Alberta do intend to meet our commitments to sustainable resource development and maintenance of the biodiversity of our province.”

CPAWS sent Prime Minister Harper a copy of its letter to Premier Stelmach.

The organization wants the federal government to be aware of potential opportunities for Alberta to improve its image on environmental protection and to prevent the local extinction of a species at risk in the oil sand area.

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Contact

Helene Walsh,
Boreal Conservation Director
Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, Northern Alberta
780-922-0908 or 780-432-0967

Take Action

Watch the video and sign the Athabasca Petition for at least 50% protection of the Lower Athabasca Region - Alberta's Last True Wilderness

In Depth